RESTON, Va.—SNMTS recently announced the recipients of $50,000 in Paul Cole and Mickey Williams Minority Student scholarships for molecular imaging/nuclear medicine technologist students during the Mid-Winter Educational Symposium held in San Antonio, Texas, by SNM, the world's largest molecular imaging and nuclear medicine society.
"SNMTS continues to demonstrate its leadership in supporting and advancing nuclear medicine technology by investing in our future workforce," said SNMTS President D. Scott Holbrook, who speaks for the more than 8,000 technologist members of SNM. "The purpose of our scholarship programs has always been to encourage outstanding students to pursue their dreams in the nuclear medicine profession," he added.
"It is exciting to think that so many dedicated candidates will be entering the nuclear medicine field," said Carol V. Bonanno, chair of the SNMTS Committee on Scholarships, Grants and Awards. "The committee is very pleased with the quantity and quality of this year's scholarship applicants. It is very rewarding to know that SNMTS is making it possible for such high-quality candidates to enter this dynamic career," she noted.
The awards include four Mickey Williams Minority Student scholarships, each providing $5,000 to a minority student entering or enrolled in a molecular imaging/nuclear medicine technologist program. Funded by the Professional Development and Education Fund, this scholarship supports minority students pursuing a two- or four-year degree in nuclear medicine technology and honors the memory of Mickey Williams, a past SNMTS president who immigrated to the United States from Jamaica.
Alfred Mensah, an undergraduate student with the nuclear medicine program at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, received a two-year Mickey Williams Minority Student Scholarship. "This scholarship will allow me to pursue a master's program in nuclear medicine and education. I would also like to start encouraging minority students to pursue a nuclear medicine profession," noted Mensah.
Receiving one-year Mickey Williams Minority Student scholarships were Theresah Semana, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich.; Derrick Turner, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio; and John Williams, Triton College, River Grove, Ill. The Mickey Williams Minority Student scholarships are made possible through contributions from 2006 Corporate Friends and supporters of the PDEF: Biogen Idec, Capintec Inc., GE Healthcare, Mallinckrodt and MDS Nordion.
Additionally, 30 individuals were named recipients of Paul Cole scholarships, each providing $1,000 to students enrolled in associate, baccalaureate or certificate programs in nuclear medicine technology. These scholarships are based on financial need, statements of goals, academic performance and program director recommendations. Funded by the Education and Research Foundation for SNM, the Paul Cole scholarship was established in memory of Paul Cole, a champion of student education who died in 1986 while serving as SNMTS president. SNM's Central Chapter funded two of these 2007 scholarships.
The 30 Paul Cole Scholarship recipients and their college affiliations are listed here.
Baccalaureate Program
Bayley Hicks, Melanie Lee and Andrea Mason, all at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Health Related Professions, Little Rock, Ark.
- Sarah Pyatt and Kathleen Linehan, both at Indiana University, Indianapolis
Lisa Meyer, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City
- Danielle Rill, Johns Hopkins Schools of Medical Imaging, Baltimore, Md.
- Dennis Flood (supported by SNM's Central Chapter) and Brooke Whitcher, both at the Mayo School of Health Sciences, Rochester, Minn.
Jessica Sharp, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
- Tracy Rebscher and Jaykumar Patel, both at UMDNJ School of Health Related Professions, Scotch Plains, N.J.
- Jared Martarano, University of Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, N.Y.
Vana Hansch, University of Wisconsin La Crosse, La Crosse
- Emily Bindl, Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wis.
Associate Degree Program
- Connie Roberts, Gateway Community College, Phoenix, Ariz.
- Andrea Cyphers, Delaware Technical and Community College, Stanton, Del.
- John Williams (supported by SNM's Central Chapter), Triton College, River Grove, Ill.
- Morgan Creason, Jefferson Community College, Louisville, Ken.
- Lindsay Ferguson, University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio
- Derrick Turner, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Erin Obsniuk, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, Canada
Certificate Program
- Kathryn Carpenter and Beth Tichelar, both at the College of Dupage, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
- Jason Hendershot, Johns Hopkins Hospital Schools of Medical Imaging, Baltimore, Md.
- Sheela Shivraman, William Beaumont Nuclear Medicine Program, Royal Oak, Mich.
- Bryce Bakkedahl and Ashley Munson, both at the Mayo School of Health Sciences, Rochester, Minn.
- Melissa Stump, Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Mo.
- Nino Gotsiridze, Institute of Allied Medical Professions, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, N.Y.
About SNM—Advancing Molecular Imaging and Therapy
SNM is an international scientific and professional organization of more than 16,000 members dedicated to promoting the science, technology and practical applications of molecular and nuclear imaging to diagnose, manage and treat diseases in women, men and children. Founded more than 50 years ago, SNM continues to provide essential resources for health care practitioners and patients; publish the most prominent peer-reviewed journal in the field; sponsor research grants, fellowships and awards; host the premier annual meeting for medical imaging; and train physicians, technologists, scientists, physicists, chemists and radiopharmacists in state-of-the-art imaging procedures and advances. SNM members have introduced—and continue to explore—biological and technological innovations in medicine that noninvasively investigate the molecular basis of diseases, benefiting countless generations of patients.
SNM's Technologist Section is a scientific organization formed with—but operating autonomously from—SNM. SNMTS promotes the continued development and improvement of the art and science of nuclear medicine and technology. SNM is based in Reston, Va.; additional information can be found online at http://www.snm.org.